Method of and apparatus for capping detonators



J. M. OLIN ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CAPPING 'DETONATORS April 7, 1925.

Filled D66. 30,

l lllll lllhll Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,532,929 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN 1.0m, HENRY H. woon, am: JOHN B. sMI'rII, or EAST ALTON, ILLINOIS, AS- sIGNons 'ro wnsrmm CARTRIDGE company, or EAST ALTON, ILLINOIS, A con- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

A mn'rnon or AND-APPARATUS FOR cAIrInG na'roim'roas.

Application filed December 80, 1922. Serial No. 609,953.

To all whom-iii may concern; Beit known that we, JoHN M. OLIN,

I HENRY H. W000, and Joint B. SMITH all c1t1zens of the United States, and residing at East Alton, in the county of Madison, in the State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Capping Detonators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to methods of and machines for capping detonators, and more particularly those of the electrically ignited -t pe. r

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine for capping a detonator by supplying thereto one or more sealing components in order to seal the connections in the shell.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine, whereby during the capping operations the connections will be supported so as to avoid interference with the composition supplying mechanism and whereby the connections will be accurately positioned within the shell.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine which will be simple in constriliction, etfective in its action and economica r Another object of this invention" is to provide a process whereby the igniter terminals will not only be properly positioned but also sealed in the open end of the shell. I

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figiliire 1 is a plan of a machine embodying} s invention; I

igure 2 is a section, somewhat enlarged, on the line 2 2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is adetail of the shell support and connection g e and table;

Figure 4 is a etail showing the spouts for supplying the composition; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged section of one of the sealed'detonators.

Referring to the'accompanying drawing and more particularly to Figure 5, the'detonator as shown comprisesa shell 1 which may be of drawn metal, and has charge components 2 and 3 of any improved composition and arran e'ment; the upper end of this shell is headed as shown at 4. In this shell are arranged the terminals 5 of the connections 6 which pass through a plug 7 formedon the connections and of a suitable composition, a sat sfacto one being a mixture of sulphur and grap ite. The connections are insulated wires, which are stripped from where they pro'ect through the plug and provided with a lament 8 of a suitable resistance wire. The plug 7 is formed on the connections extraneous of the shell. and the plug terminal of the connection is inserted into the shell, as shown in Figure 5, and secured by additional plugs 9 and 10 of sulphur and pitch respectively, these I plug components are poured into the shell as hereinafter described so as to flowaround the connections, and it will be notedthat the composition flows into the bead 4 so as to firmlysecure and lock the parts together. The connections are coiled on the tube or other suitable support in order to provide a package 11 from which relatively short ends of the connections project as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the machine as shown comprises a suitable base on which is mounted to rotate a carrier 15, which has a rim 16 provided with a series of recesses or sockets 17 to receive the shells, the upper ends' of each socket bein enlarged as shown at 18' to receive the head 4 so that the'shoulder formed at the bottom of the enlar 'ement provides a recess for the bead 4. T e rim 16 has formed or attached thereto a flange 19, over which the connections 6 are arranged to take in order to properly position the lug 7 on these connections in the shells, t e coiled package 11 resting on the table 15. Arranged above the table 15 and in-spaced relation therearound' are tanks 20 and 21, one of which is arranged to receivesulphur or a composition of sulphur and graphite,

while the other receives pitch. These tanks may be heated-in any suitable manner as by electrical heatin coils l(not shown). Each tank is provided witi a series-of spouts 22 (in this case three) which are arranged to discharge the' components into a corresponding series of shells when alined therewith. Each tank has a series of measuring devices 23 corresponding to the spouts and arranged to measure quantities of the plug components into the shells, these measuring devices being mounted on a shaft 24,

- which is given a step by step rotative movement as hereinafter described in timed relation with the movement of the. table, so that when a series of shells aline with the spouts a predetermined, measured quantity of the plug component is fed into each shell thereupon the table is given another step movement to aline another series of shells with the spouts and the measuring operation is repeated. Each series of spouts has arranged therebelow a drip catcher which is also operated in timed relation with the measuring device and the table.

Mounted on a suitable support 26, which may form part of the base or the table, is a shaft 27 having a pulley 28 receiving power from any suitable source of power.

Fixed to this shaft is a worm 29 meshing with a worm wheel 30 on a shaft 31. This shaft has fixed thereto an element 32 of a Geneva movement, which meshes with a corresponding element 33. on the shaft 34, which has fixed thereto a bevel gear 35 meshing with a bevel segment 36 on the table. The provision of this mechanism operates to impart a step by step movement to the table, with a period of rest between the movements, the movement in this instance being suflicient to successively cause three shells to aline with the spouts.

The shaft 31 has fixed thereto a cam 37, the cam roll of which is mounted on an arm 38 connected with a pawl 39 cooperating with a ratchet 40. This ratchet is fixed to a shaft which in turn has fixed thereto bevel gears 41 meshing with bevel gears 42 on shafts 43 having sliding couplings with the shafts 24. Accordingly the shafts 24 will be given a step by step movement so as to operate the measuring devices 23 in timed relation with the movement of the table. The looserconnections, however, enable the tanks to be shifted to properly aline the spouts with the shells.

The shaft 31 has an additional cam 44 cooperating with a roll on the bell crank lever 45, which is connected by links 46 with the the form of long arms and pivoted on the base 26. Accordingly the drip receivers will be. given movements from full to dotted positions, in order to move into and out of cooperative relation with the spouts, and this movement is in timed relation with the movement of the table and of the measuring device.

Assuming that the table is given a movement in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, the operation will be as follows: The

shells are placed on the table in front of the tank 20 and the :plugs 7 are inserted in the shells with the connections 11-6 radiating inwardl 1 therefromaand resting on the table, with t ese connections over the gage or flange 19, so as to properly position drip receivers 25, which are inthe plugs in the shells. After the table comes to rest with a set of shells in alinement with each set of spouts leading from the tanks 20 and 2l, the drip receivers 25 are moved to dotted position so as to clear the shells in alinement therewith. The measuring devices will now operate to measure into the shells predetermined or measured quantities of the plug components, the composition from the tank 20 forming the plug 9 while the composition from the tank 21 forms the plug. 10, the composition flowing not only into the shell but around the connections in order to thoroughly seal and secure the connections therein. It will be understood, of course, that since the table is filled in front of the tank 20, there will be no filling from the tank 21 until the filled shells from the tank 20 reach the tank 21. Thereafter, however, the operation will be continuous, and the shells and the connections sealed therein are taken from the table as it passes beyond the tank 21.

It will, therefore, be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects. The machine is not only simple in construction but is economical and rapid in its operation. The separate components forming the plug are successively measured into the shell so as to fiow therein and seal the connections therein. Moreover the connections are not only supported clear of the measuring devices but in such a manner as to be convenient for manipulation and so asto properly position the terminals in the-shell.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in details without departing from the spirit of this invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details, shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine for sealing detonators, the combination with a carrier having holders for the shells, of means for supporting the connections adapted to position the terminals thereof within the shells, and means for supplying the sealing compound to said shells and over the connections therein.

2. In a machine for sealing detonators, the combination with a carrier having holders for the shells, of means for supporting the connections adapted to position the terminals thereof within the shells, and means for successively supplying the components; of a sealing plug to said shells and over the connections therein.

3. In a machine for sealing detonators, the combination with a carrier having holders for the shells, of means for supporting the connections adapted to position the terminals thereof within the shells, a sealing compound supply, a measuring device therefor adapted to direct the compoundinto the shells and over the connections therein, and means foroper'at-ing said carrier and said devices in timed relation.

4. In a machinc'for sealing detonators, the combination with a carrier having hold: ers for the shells, of means for supporting the connections adapted to position the terminals thereof within the shells, sealing compound tanks arranged along said carrier, a measuring device for each tank adapted to direct a component of a sealing plug to said shells and over the connections therein, and means for operating said carrier and said devices in timed relation.

5. In a machine for sealing detonators, the combination with a carrier having holders for the shells, of sealing compound supplying means adaptcd for cooperation with said carrier and the shells thereon, and means for supporting the connections clear of said supplying means, adapted to position the terminals within the shells, in order to cause the compound to form plugs within the shells and over said connections.

6, In a machine for sealing detonators, the combination with a carrier having holders for the shells, of sealing compound sup plying means adapted for cooperation with said carrier and the shells thereon, said carrier being constructed and arranged to support said connections clear of said supplying means, adapted to position the terminals within the shells, in order to cause the compound to form plugs within the shells and over said connections.

7 In a machine for sealing detonators, the combination with a carrier having holders for the shells, of sealing compound supplying means adapted for cooperation with said carrier and the shells thereon, and a gage onsaid table for supporting said connections, adapted to position the terminals within the shells, in order to cause the compound to form plugs within the shells and over said connections.

8. In a machine for sealing detonators, the combination with a carrier having holders for the shells, of sealing compound sup- 'and positioning the terminals plying means adapted'for cooperation with said carrier and the shells thereon, said carrier having a table for supporting said connections, and means adapted to position the terminals within the shells, in order to cause the compound to form plugs within the shells and over said connect-ions.

9. In a machine for sealing detonators, the combination with a carrier having holders for the shells, of sealing compound supplying means adapted for cooperation with said carrier and the shells thereon, said carrier having a table for supporting said connections, and a gage on said table adapted to position the terminals within the shells, in order to cause the compound to form plugs within the shells and over said connections.

10. In the art of making electrically ignited detonators, the process comprising, positioning'the igniter terminals and their enveloping plug in the open end of the shell, and placing a sealing compound over the plug and around the connections.

11. In the art of making electrically ignited detonators, the process comprising, positioning the igniter terminals and their enveloping plug in the open end of the shell, and sr. cessively placing layers of scaling compound over the plug and around the connections. v

12. In the art of making electrically ignited detonators, the process comprising, placing the igniter terminals and their enveloping plug in the open end of the shell, and plug by the connections.

13. In the art of making electrically ignited detonators, the process comprising, placing the igniter terminals and their enveloping plug in the open end of the shell, positioning the terminals and plug by the connections, and placing a sealing compound over the plug and around the connections.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures this 28th day of November, 1922.

. JOHN M. OLIN.

HENRY H. WOOD. JOHN B. SMITH. 

